Beijing handicraft sees modern revival

Twelve ladies standing in three groups, pounding, ironing and spinning the yarns - this is a remake of the famous painting “Ladies Preparing Silk”, created by Zhang Xuan during the Tang Dynasty in the 8th century. But it’s not done by painters with brushes and colors - everything is made out of silk.

“It was an interesting process remaking the painting, but very time-consuming... We did a lot of research on background story, especially the dress code of Tang Dynasty’s royal court. You have to make an authentic Tang Dynasty dress to make it look like the figures in the painting,” silk figurine craftsman Hua Shulin said.